Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/03/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Once a year, the 63 deities in the Kapaleshwar Temple here in Chennai are taken for a spin in their palanquins and carts, carried by the devout, around the temple and its holy pond (about a kilometer in each direction), and the crowd that lands up for this most auspicious day numbers over 250,000. I landed up late, so missed a vantage point in one of the buildings, and had to jostle with the crowd to take a few shots - all of which are from road level: Palanquins of the Gods: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/album254/Kapaleshwar_20110317_115-Edit.jpg.html Depending on the deity, a certain type of blessing is sought. Here is one for kids: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/album254/Kapaleshwar_20110317_056-Edit.jpg.html The holy ash (vibhuthi) is distributed, and then smeared on one's forehead: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/album254/Kapaleshwar_20110317_079-Edit.jpg.html Trance chanting and dancing: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/album254/Kapaleshwar_20110317_180-Edit.jpg.html Night falls: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/album254/Kapaleshwar_20110317_278-Edit.jpg.html Terrified kids - who could blame them - being handed over to a stranger at night in this crowd, losing sight of their parents, with a not very benign looking mother goddess looming over them: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/album254/Kapaleshwar_20110317_358-Edit_001.jpg.html C&C, as ever, welcome